Friday, February 19, 2010

GOOD ENGLISH! GET EXCITED!

PET PEEVES

How many peeves can you list from the conversation below?
Create an acceptable alternative conversation.

Diner: "Thank you for seating us so quickly."
Server: "No problem. What can I get yous guys to drink?"

BREAKUP/BREAK UP

Explain the difference in meaning between "breakup" and "break up".
Create sentences using "breakup" and "break up". Be sure the respective meanings are clear.



TODAY'S WORD

The word for today is "burgeoning".
What part of speech is "burgeoning"? Be very specific.
Define "burgeoning" and use it in a sentence.
What other parts of speech can be made with "burgeoning"?

CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS

Corrections and explanations for this week's entries will be posted Sunday.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

"S" IS THURSDAY'S SOUND

SUBMITTAL/SUBMISSION

Explain the difference in meaning between the words "submittal" and "submission".
Identify the verb forms of each word.
Create sentences that clearly show the definition of "submittal" and "submission".

TODAY'S WORD

The word for today is "sybaritic".
What part of speech is "sybaritic"?
Define "sybaritic" and use it in a sentence.
List other forms of the word.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

MY WRITING MISSION

COPYWRITE/COPYRIGHT

I received a comment yesterday about whether or not my material is under (copywrite or copyright). So today's effort is directed at these words.
Which, "copywrite" or "copyright", is the correct term?
What parts of speech can the correct word be?
Create a sentence for each part of speech of the correct word.

FYI


I use several sources for my grammar, sentence structure and punctuation lessons. Since all of my entries are based on universal rules for correct writing, I make no proprietary claims nor do I acknowledge any sort of ownership or plagiarism. 
With anything that I post from a newspaper, TV ad, radio commentator or other source, I give due and proper ownership to the author. I work on the basis that if someone authored  and put his name to a piece, he owns it, including the errors he might make in his writing and he is fair game for this blog.
I expect correctness in professional writing and speaking and if I don't see or hear it, I claim the right to comment. 


TRUE CYNICISM

Identify the writer of the following brutal comment.

“Some editors are failed writers, but so are most writers.”


TODAY'S WORD

The word for today is "mesmerize".
What part of speech is "mesmerize"?
Define "mesmerize" and use it in a sentence.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

SMALL POSERS

WRITING STYLE OR WRITING ERROR?

Is there a mistake in the entry below? What is it? Correct it and give your reasons.

"Not surprising for a toddler who has probably never seen temperatures below 26 C."
Frances Willick, The Windsor Star, Tuesday, February 16, 2010.

TODAY'S WORD

The word for today is "hoar".
What parts of speech can "hoar" be?
Define "hoar" and use it in sentences as two different parts of speech..

Monday, February 15, 2010

WORD RELATIONSHIPS

A VERY COMMON MISTAKE

Correct the error in the following piece. Cite the applicable rule for your correction.
Bonus: connect your correction to today's word and win a silver star.
Bonus: connect your correction to today's title and win a gold star.

"Jensen compared the 500 to a Volkswagen. But she said its smaller size wouldn't fit she and her husband's lifestyle."
Jeff Bolinchowski, "FRUGAL FIAT 500 WINNING FANS", Windsor Star, Monday, February 15, 2010.


TODAY'S WORD

The word for today is "ameliorate".
What part of speech is "ameliorate"?
Define "ameliorate" and use it in a sentence.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - February 14, 2010

 Here  are the corrections and explanations for last week's entries.

Monday

Alternate”, as an adjective, means another choice or something different.
Alternate” can also be a verb but the emphasis is on the last syllable.
Alternate” can also be a noun.

Alternative”, as an adjective, means every other as in meeting on alternative weeks throughout the year.
Alternative”, as a noun, refers to another choice, as in, ‘My alternative to becoming a lazy retiree is to write a daily blog about using English correctly’.


Tuesday

COMMON WORDS/COMMON MISTAKES

What do “phenomena”, “criteria”, “media”, “data” and “stadia” all have in common?

The words are all plural forms.
“Phenomenon”, “criterion”, “medium”, “datum” and “stadium” are the respective singular forms.
The most commonly misused examples are “data” with a singular verb and “stadiums” instead of “stadia”. “Criteria” is often misused when only a single “criterion” is needed.


Wednesday

Correct any errors and give reasons for your choices.

“ ‘Dr. Bernie Warren is a very unique individual who is highly recognized in the medical community,’ said Bird.”

Unique”, an absolute modifier, means one-of-a-kind and cannot be compared.

“ ‘Dr. Bernie Warren is a unique individual who is highly recognized in the medical community,’ said Bird.”


Thursday

FLOE/FLOW

Floe” (n.) is a flat mass of ice floating at sea.

Flow” (v.) means to move smoothly or to stream.


Friday

POPULACE/POPULOUS

Populace”, a noun, refers to the population, as a whole, or the people of a country.

Populous”, an adjective, refers to the density of population within a country, as in California is more populous than all of Canada.


I REALLY LIKE THIS ONE

“Patterning your life around others' opinions is nothing more than slavery.”
Lawana Blackwell, a Louisiana writer penned this line in her book, “The Dowry of Miss Lydia Clark”.

PET PEEVES - NEW DEPARTMENT

“NO PROBLEM”

Suggest an improvement for the word exchange below.
“Thank you for doing that job.”
“No problem.”

No problem” has become a substitute for “you’re welcome” and places the importance on the job done by the server instead of responding to the politeness of the job receiver. It suggests the server is doing a favour for the receiver and sounds self-centred. It is better than no response at all but it is not as polite as "Thank you" and is a pet peeve.

“Thank you for doing that job.”
“You’re welcome.”


LAST WEEK’S WORDS

Abhorrent” (adj.) means detestable, repulsive or obscene.
Abhor” is the verb form.
Abhorrence” is the noun form.

Kibosh” (n.) refers to nonsense or to rendering something as definitely impossible or out of the question.

Ruminate” (v.) means to chew, to masticate or to think about or ponder about at length and in depth.
Rumination” is the noun form.
Ruminant” refers to any chewing type animal.

Foppish” (adj.) means affecting extremes in dress and manner or dandyish.
Fop” is the noun form.
Foppishly” is the adverb form.

Expediency” (n.) refers to advantageousness, advisability or something that is quick, easy  or politic rather than something that is right and just.